Been caught scalpin'

April 20, 2007 7:08 AM

What would the consequences be if I were caught scalping a ticket?

Every friend and relative I have is apparently out of town or busy this Sunday, and I have an extra bleacher ticket for the Cubs-Cards game at Wrigley. I don't want to eat the cost ($48), so I will, if I must, sell it at face value outside the park. So, what happens when (not if--I'm a pessimist by nature) I sell to a narc? Does selling at face value matter? Do I lose the ticket and/or get fined? Am I safe if I sell it across the street?

posted by Terminal Verbosity to law & government (12 comments total)

They've been arresting a lot more scalpers than normal at the Red Sox games. So, I guess the answer to your question is you could be arrested.
posted by backseatpilot at 7:25 AM on April 20, 2007

I had some friends that got busted trying that, they got the tickets taken, the cash they had on them confiscated, and a court date. Sell it on craigslist of eBay today.
posted by andrewzipp at 7:34 AM on April 20, 2007

The Illinois Ticket Scalping Act (now known as the Ticket Sale and Resale Act) does seem to focus on charging more than face value -- so selling it for face value may not be scalping at all.
On the other hand, the penalty for scalping without a Ticket Broker license is a Class A misdemeanor and a fine of up to $5000.
If you do it, definitely stay off the Cubs' property -- they can give you shit for trespassing, at the very least. Besides, they have their own scalping operation and would probably not appreciate the competition.
posted by katemonster at 7:38 AM on April 20, 2007 [1 favorite]

As a lifelong Cardinals fan lawyer who lives two blocks from Wrigley field, this question is right in my wheelhouse.

720 ILCS 375/1.5 (part of Illinois' "Ticket Scalping Act") only makes it illegal to sell tickets for "more than the price printed upon the face of said ticket." So if you are selling for face value you are not scalping your tickets.

That said, cops can be picky about where you can and cannot stand when reselling your tickets. On Wrigley Field property is a definite no-no. I would think if you are explicit about face value (if you are serious about that) and you stay away from the actual ballpark when selling them, you should not have a problem.

Have fun at the game; I hope you see the Cardinals complete a sweep.

(I'm not your lawyer, this isn't legal advice, don't rely on anything I say, and all that jazz.)

On preview: katemonster beat me.
posted by AgentRocket at 7:43 AM on April 20, 2007

A bleacher ticket is $48!! You can sell it for face value, it's legal. You can sell anything near Wrigley, one block radius. There is some city ordinance that they made to get rid of street musicians and anyone selling programs/peanuts/etc.
Craigs list is the way to go.
posted by lee at 8:11 AM on April 20, 2007

Also, scalping laws are going to be completely different everywhere you go. In some cities its completely legal as long as you dont have a bag of cocaine or child pornography stapled to the tickets.
posted by yeahyeahyeahwhoo at 8:16 AM on April 20, 2007

Should read "You CAN"T sell...
posted by lee at 8:27 AM on April 20, 2007

can't you put it on stubhub.com?
posted by punkrockrat at 9:25 AM on April 20, 2007

Please note that, were someone suspected of scalping tickets, the first thing they would say is that they were selling at face value. So note that you may get hassled anyway, and your credibility challenged, if you sell it in person.

If not online, perhaps at a proximate sports bar?
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 10:05 AM on April 20, 2007

In the end, it was pretty much a non-issue. I had three offers before I reached the stadium and the guy I sold it to was elated he got it for face value. Thanks for all the input. AgentRocket, your answer was very informative, but I can't in good conscience award best answer to a Cards fan.
posted by Terminal Verbosity at 6:34 PM on April 22, 2007 [1 favorite]

but I can't in good conscience award best answer to a Cards fan.

My favorite comment ever.
posted by lee at 11:21 PM on April 23, 2007

How can companies such as Ticket Liquidators and TicketSpecialists.com get away with selling tickets over face value? I accidently purchased tickets this way thinking they were a legitimate ticket source (found on Google). I paid over $300 face value for 3 tickets. If I try to resell on ebay or Craigslist could I get arrested?
posted by Zobie at 9:26 AM on September 16, 2007